Al Marri mourned

Misfer Al Marri, the 2010 FIA Middle East Championship winner, died after a brief illness in London.

DOHA: The motor sport family in Qatar and the region yesterday mourned Misfer Al Marri, 2010 FIA Middle East Championship winner, who died after a brief illness in London.

QMMF President Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah led tributes and said, “It is a great loss to Qatar motor sports and sports in general. He was a fantastic guy who gave his best all the time. It is a very sad day for all of us at QMMF and for all who knew his passion for rallying.

“It is God’s will. We have to accept it. I offer condolences to his family. We were offering regular prayers for his recovery but it was not to be.

“He was one of the finest professionals we had in this country. He loved racing. He started many years ago. He was from a family of rally drivers. Above all, he was a good person. He was popular all over the region. He won the 2010 FIA Middle East Championship, a big accomplishment for somebody so young.

“I have been receiving emails and phone calls from the Arab motor sport federation following Al Marri’s death. They are in a state of shock,” he added.

Former QMMF colleague and friend Mohammed Naeem expressed shock at the news and said, “When I heard about it, it didn’t seem true. I was shocked. It is a sad day not only for me but for his family and friends.

“I knew him from the time he started rally. I think that was probably in the late 90s. He was a diehard fan of the sport. For me, it is a personal loss because we were friends for so long.

“The Arab motor sport family is in a state of shock. He was very much liked by all those who saw him in action or those who knew him,” Doha-born Naeem added.

“I offer my condolences to his family.”

UAE rally giant Mohammed Ben Sulayemn said, “This is very sad news, and a big loss to rallying in Qatar and the Middle East,” said the President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE. My first thoughts are with Misfer’s family and friends, and I send them my deepest condolences. He was a very likeable guy, and a passionate rally competitor who always gave everything,” he said in a statement. The Peninsula